Tuning device for violins and the like



March 11, 1941. ABRAMS TUNING DEVICE FOR 'vloLms AI-TD THE LIKE Filed Nov. 29, 1940 v INVENTOR. Y e// 5 fi/W/MS (i Wm Patented Mar. 11, 1941 PATENT OFFICE TUNING DEVICE FOR VIOLINS AND THE LIKE Neil B. Abrams, Kalamazoo, Mich., assignor to Gibson, Inc., Kalamazoo, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application November 29, 1940, Serial No. 367,684

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in tuning devices for violins and the like.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an improved string adjusting or tuning device for stringed musical instruments such as violins and the like, which is of exceedingly inexpensive construction though very effective in operation.

Second, to provide a device of the type described for supplementing the conventional tuning keys or posts of a violin or like instrument so as to enable an individual string thereof to be quickly and easily tuned to exact pitch.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A structure embodying the features of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

.Fig. 1 is a'view illustrating a violin with the tuning device of my invention associated there with.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially broken away and in vertical section illustrating structural details of the tuning device of my invention in association with the violin structure.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view, further illustrating the device of the invention.

In the tuning of certain stringed instruments wherein conventional friction type tuning keys, pegs or posts are employed, difficulty is frequently experienced in properly tensioning the strings particularly in the case of the treble strings, such as the E-string of a violin, so as to accurately play the desired note. It is therefore for the purpose of enabling a desired string to be quickly and easily brought to its final tuned condition or tension following a preliminary tuning by the conventional tuning key or post that the present adjusting device is intended. I have illustrated the device as being associated with the E string of a conventional violin, however it will be apparent from the description to follow that it is adapted for use on instruments other than a violin and in connection with other strings. The device is simple and light in weight and in this particular not subject to the objection of a great many hitherto devised string tuning structures, which by reason of their excessive weight or complicated structure or instability have found no market. Moreover, my device is exceedingly easily and quickly operated to provide a fine micrometer adjustment of the string following the aforesaid initial tuning and remains in its adjusted position.

Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral I indicates a violin or conventional construction including a body 2, strings 3, a bridge 4 over which the strings are disposed, and a tailpiece 5 at which one end of each of the strings is anchored.

As illustrated, three of the strings are shown as attached to anchoring key slots or holes in the tailpiece in conventional manner, while the fourth or E string, particularly designated by the reference numeral 6, is anchored on the tuning device 6| of my invention for the adjustment referred to. The other end of each of the strings is secured to the usual friction type tuning keys or posts 1 by which they are given an initial tuned tension in the usual manner.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, the device of my invention consists of a threaded post 8 inserted through one of the holes 9 in the tailpiece from beneath the latter. It will be noted that the post has an enlarged cylindrical body 9| engageable in the enlarged circular bore of the hole, and an upper threaded portion 92 of smaller diameter.

Post 8 threadedly engages an opening in an L-shaped or angled footpiece member NJ to hold the latter against the upper surface of the tailpiece, this footpiece member having an upturned forward lug or shoulder I l which is abuttingly engageable against the usual transverse rib 12 on the tailpiece over which the three other strings are disposed. Member It acts to maintain the post 8 very accurately in proper vertical position and is itself restrained from movement on the tailpiece by that member. superposed and fulcrumed on the member I8 is an angular lever-like adjusting member l3 having a rearwardly extending tail portion or arm l4 provided with an enlarged aperture 15 receiving the threaded portion 92 of post 8, and an upturned forward arm I 6 engageable by the bight ll of string 6 to adjustably anchor the same. The angled nose I 8 of member l3 rests on member l0 serving as a fulcrum for the lever. As illustrated, the upturned lug l l of the positioning and foot member Ill serves as a stop for the extreme proper forward position of the adjusting arm I6, since the lug is located immediately in front of the arm, these parts being in a nested relation. The extreme movement in the other direction is of course limited by the distance the nut can advance on the screw.

An externally knurled nut l9 threadedly engages the post and downwardly abuts and restrains the rearwardly extending tail portion I4 of the lever It so as to pivot the latter in one direction or another as the nut is threadingly advanced downward on post 8 or backed off. This manipulation of the lever 13 increases or decreases the tension of string 6 as desired to enable the proper tuned tension thereof to be produced with ease.

The reference numeral 25! in Fig. 1 denotes a small fibrous sleeve or other sleeve-like protecting member through which the E string 6 may extend in case it is of steel, in order to protect the bridge of the instrum nt.

I am aware that individual tuning devices have been proposed, however most of them are relatively complicated considering the simple function they perform. I am not aware that any has heretofore been devised which has the ease and speed of manipulation, simplicity and economy of construction and lightness in weight of the above described device, also the accuracy and dependability of the results which it provides.

I have illustrated and described my invention in an embodiment which is very practical. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

-vice comprising a positioning member having an aperture therein adapted to be alined with an aperture in the tailpiece behind said rib, a threaded post extending through said aperture and threadedly engaging the positioning member to hold the same fixedly in place on the tailpiece,

said post being positioned relative to the tailpiece by engagement with said positioning member, a tensioning lever having a rearwardly extending tail portion provided with an enlarged aperture receiving said post, an upturned forward arm engageable by a string of the instrument, a fulcrum nose between said arm and portion rockably engaging the top of said positioning member, and a nut threadedly engageable with said post and abuttingly engageable with said tail portion to rock said tensioning lever about said fulcrum nose and thereby adjust the tension of said string.

2. In a tuning device for the string of a violin or like instrument having a tailpiece provided with anchoring apertures receiving one end of tween said arm and portion rockably engaging the top of said positioning member, and a nut threadedly engageable with said post and abuttingly engageable with said tail portion to rock said tensioning lever about said fulcrum nose and thereby adjust the tension of said string.

3. In a tuning device for a violin or like instrument having a tailpiece provided with an anchoring aperture for one end of a string, the other end of which is anchored at a point remote from the tailpiece, said device comprising a post extending through said aperture, means for positioning said post in fixed lateral and vertical relation to the tailpiece, a tensioning lever having a rearwardly extending tail portion provided with an enlarged aperture receiving said post, a for- Ward arm engageable by a string of the instrument, a fulcrum nose between said arm and portion supported for rocking movement on the tailpiece, and a nut threadedly engageable with said post and abuttingly engageable with said lever tail portion to shift the same and rock said lever about said fulcrum nose and thereby adjust the tension of said spring.

4. In a tuning device for a violin or like instrument having a tailpiece provided with an anchoring aperture for one end of a string, the other end of which is anchored at a point remote from the tailpiece, said device comprising a post extending through said aperture, means for positioning said post in fixed lateral relation to the tailpiece, a tensioning lever having a rearwardly extending tail portion shiftable axially relative to said post, a forward arm engageable by a string of the instrument, a fulcrum nose between said arm and portion supported for rocking movement on the tailpiece, and a nut threadedly engageable with said post and abuttingly engageable with said lever tail portion to shift the same and rock said lever about said fulcrum nose and thereby adjust the tension of said string.

5. A tuning device for strings of violins and like instruments having a tailpiece, said device comprising a threaded post on the tailpiece, a positioning member having an upturned forward lug, said member engaging said post whereby to position the same with reference to the tailpiece,

an angled lever having an arm provided with an opening freely receiving the post, a string receiving arm and a fulcrum between said arms rockable on the positioning member, and a nut threadedly engaging said post and abuttingly engageable with said first named arm to rock the lever about said fulcrum when the nut is advanced or retracted on said post and thereby tighten or loosen the string, said lug engaging said last named arm at the extreme desired movement of the lever in one direction.

6. A tuning device for strings of violins and like instruments having a tailpiece, said device comprising a threaded post fixedly secured to and vertically positioned on the tailpiece, an angled lever having an arm provided with an opening freely receiving the post, a string receiving arm and a fulcrum between said arms rockable on the tailpiece, and a nut threadedly engaging said post and abuttingly engageable with said first named arm to rock the lever about said fulcrum when the nut is advanced or retracted on said post and thereby tighten or loosen the string.

NEIL B. ABRAMS. 

